The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals were united in history on April 19, 1987, when they completed the “Easter Epic” – Game 7 in the semi -final in the Patrick Division which eventually won by the islands in quadruple overtime.
Almost 38 years later, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has a chance to ensure another permanent link between the teams in NHL’s history books.
Ovechkin will try to break his tie with Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s leading goal scores on Sunday afternoon, when the capitals visit the islands in what will surely be a loaded atmosphere in Elmont, new
Both teams were on Saturday after serving victories at home Friday. Ovechkin made twice to bind Gretzky’s record in Capital’s 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, while the islanders stopped a six-match losing line by beating the Minnesota Wild 3-1.
Ovechkin, who shows up at home for just the second time during the last six games, band Gretzky in front of a Sellout audience of 18,573 by collecting its 893th and 894th goals in their 1,486th career game. Gretzky played another game in his legendary NHL career.
Gretzky was on hand Friday and sat with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Ovechkin, after congratulating by teammates on the ice, quit to look at Gretzky in his box and then bent.
Ovechkin again! Goal 894 !!! ??
He has tied the record all the time! #Gr8chase
????: @Nhlnetwork
????: @Sportsnet Or power at Sportsnet+ ?? https://t.co/4kjbdjvctf pic.twitter.com/jz3ozktfgn– NHL (@NHL) April 5 2025
Ovechkin opened the score at 3:52 of the first period before gathering a Power Play goal with 6:13 left in the game for the capitals (49-18-9, 107 points), which entered the game Saturday 11 points before Carolina Hurricanes in the race for the Metropolitan Division title and top seed in the East Conference. The Toronto Maple Leafs also has 96 points in the race for the East’s top seed.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Ovechkin, 39. It’s history. It’s amazing for the game, it’s great to do this. It’s special. “
Ovechkin had several chances to break the record during the declining minutes. Without any desire to break the record on an empty net, he refused to take the ice when Blackhawks drew goalkeeper Spencer Knight. Ovechkin then missed four shots in the last 78 seconds after Knight returned to the ice after a blank Neter by Ryan Leonard.
“I take all the empty networks I can get,” said Gretzky, who agreed to Ovechkin for a press conference and is expected to participate in the Sunday game with Bettman.
The two-goal game on Friday continued a remarkable sprint to the record by Ovechkin, which has scored in each of its last four games and has 41 goals in just 60 matches this season-incumbent 26 in 42 games since December 28, when he returned from a 16-match absence due to a broken leg.
Ovechkin has 44 goals in 71 careers with regular season against the islands but has never scored against Ilya Sorokin, who is expected to start at the goalkeeper on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s game-by-game, it’s shift-by-change,” said Ovechkin. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Preventing Ovechkin from breaking the record Sunday can help the islanders (33-32-10, 76 points) to maintain their flickering playoffs. Casey Cizikas, Simon Holmstrom and Noah Dobson made Friday for New York, who came into play Saturday five points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the race for the last East Conference Wild card.
The islanders, who mounted late over voltages to reach the playoffs during each of the last two seasons, will have to do it again with only seven matches left. They have one each against the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, teams they would need to skip to earn a wild card.
“Our focus is on these last games and what is at stake,” Cizikas said. “Everything can happen in this league. We have to focus on what we can control and give ourselves the best fighting chance.”
-Field level media
